Fandango Shawl

I never let stash yarn sit idly in my cupboard. I love "free range" knitting, repurposing motifs and yarns from earlier projects for shawls and felted bags. Modular knitting is one of the most flexible foundations for making things up as you go.

The Fandango Shawl grows one modular fan at a time on my favorite Lantern Moon 10 1/2 knitting needles, though I think 9s and 10s would work just as well since I knitted with a wide range of yarn weights.

Isn’t it cool the way the colors create a quilt-y effect? I’m thinking about a one-color version, with many, many different yarns and weights in cream. Yummy.

Fandango Shawl

A modular knitting pattern

Finished Size: 72" wide by 30" deep/wide.

Gauge: Flexible (depends on yarns and needle used - I recommend 9, 10, or 10 1/2).

Materials: Size 10 1/2 needles; @ 1,800 yards mixed color and weight stash yarn. (I used 10 different yarns in varying weights from sport to heavy.)

Instructions:

Fandango is "constructed" one modular fan at a time, beginning with the base fan at the bottom center of the shawl. Each modular fan features two colors in this design. Vary color placement so adjacent modular fans complement each other. An alternate approach can be a monochromatic color palette. Weave in ends as you go. If you decide to line your shawl, block it first since the lining will affect the "stretch and give" of the design.


Odd rows are the front side.
For 2-color fans: Color A = Rows 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14. Color B = Rows 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15-24.

1st Modular Fan

Row 1 (A):  With Color A, cast on 25 stitches.

Row 2 (A): Knit one, knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front. Switch to Color B.

Row 3 (B): Knit one, slip one stitch with yarn in back, (Knit 1, slip one with yarn in back) 11 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 4 (B): Knit one, slip one stitch with yarn in front, (Knit 1 with yarn in back, slip one with yarn in front) 11 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front. Switch to Color A.

Row 5 (A): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 6 (A): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front. Switch to Color B.

Row 7 (B): Knit one, slip one stitch with yarn in back, (Knit 1, slip 1 stitch with yarn in back) 11 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 8 (B): Knit one, slip one stitch with yarn in back, (Knit 1 with yarn in back, slip 1 with yarn in front) 11 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front. Switch to Color A.

Row 9 (A): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 10 (A): Knit 2 together, (Knit 1, knit 2 together) 7 times, purl 2 together. 16 stitches remain. Switch to Color B.

Row 11 (B): Knit one, (knit one with yarn in back, slip 1 with yarn in front) 7 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 12 (B): Knit one, (knit one with yarn in back, slip one with yarn in front) 7 times, slip last stitch with yarn in front. Switch to Color A.

Row 13 (A): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 14 (A): Knit 2 together, (knit 1, knit 2 together) 4 times, purl 2 together. 10 stitches remain. Cut Color A and continue with Color B for rest of fan motif.

Row 15 (B): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 16 (B): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 8 stitches remain.

Row 17 (B): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 18 (B): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 6 stitches remain.

Row 19 (B): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 20 (B): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 4 stitches remain.

Row 21 (B): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 22 (B): Knit 1, purl 2 together, slip last stitch with yarn in front. 3 stitches remain.

Row 23 (B): Knit across, slip last stitch with yarn in front.

Row 24 (B): Slip one stitch, knit 2 together, pass the last stitch over and bind off.

All Other "Body" Fans

At this point, modular fans will build by picking up either 12 or 25 stitches from the fans below. For example, the next modular fan to the upper right will begin by casting on 13 stitches, then picking up 12 stitches from the upper right of the base fan. The modular fan to the left will begin by picking up 12 stitches from the upper left of the base fan and casting on 13 stitches. Follow the same pattern instructions above, "building" your shawl until you reach the width and depth you prefer.

Final (Top) Row of Modular Fans

Create a straight edge for your fan by knitting a series of half-fans between the peaks of the top row.

Row 1 (A): Pick up 25 stitches from two fans below.

Row 2 (A): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 23 stitches remain.

Row 3 (B): Knit 2 together, slip 1, (knit one, slip one with yarn in back) 9 times. 21 stitches remain.

Row 4 (B): Knit 2 together, knit 1, (slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 1 with yarn in back) 8 times, purl 2 together. 19 stitches remain.

Row 5 (A): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 17 stitches remain.

Row 6 (A): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 15 stitches remain.

Row 7 (B): Knit 2 together, slip 1, (Knit 1, slip one with yarn in back) 5 times, purl 2 together. 13 stitches remain.

Row 8 (B): Knit 2 together, knit 1, (slip one with yarn in front, knit one with yarn in back) 4 times, purl 2 together. 11 stitches remain. Cut Color B and continue with Color A for rest of motif.

Row 9 (A): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 9 stitches remain.

Row 10 (A): Knit 2 together, knit across, purl 2 together. 7 stitches remain.

Row 11 (A): Knit one, knit 2 together twice, purl 2 together. 4 stitches remain.

Row 12 (A): Knit 2 together, purl 2 together, pass the last stitch over and bind off.